On the night of Sept. 6 at Wildcat Stadium, Temple coach Scott Stewart delivered a stern, spirited speech to his team after the Wildcats allowed 27 consecutive second-half points in a 42-21 loss to Round Rock.

However, Stewart’s message didn’t have much to do with what the scoreboard showed. Instead, Temple’s ninth-year leader challenged his players to compete with greater energy, intensity and focus and to make sure they take advantage of the opportunity in front of them — without worrying about the score.

In its first road game this season last Friday night at San Antonio Reagan, Temple certainly absorbed Stewart’s tough-love talk and made it count.

The Wildcats trailed 7-0 early at Heroes Stadium and were down 14-13 midway through the fourth quarter, but they grabbed the lead on senior Christian Tutson’s 67-yard touchdown reception from junior Champ Mayo and their defense swarmed the Rattlers late as Temple earned a tense 19-14 win.